UNSC Presidential Statement on Yemen

The Security Council recalls its resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2201
(2015), 2204 (2015), 2216 (2015), 2266 (2016), 2342 (2017), and presidential statements of
15 February 2013, 29 August 2014, 22 March 2015 and 25 April 2016.

The Security Council expresses grave concern about the devastating humanitarian impact of
the conflict on civilians and emphasises that the humanitarian situation will deteriorate in the
absence of a political solution.

The Security Council expresses deep concern about the recent outbreak of cholera, which is
the latest indicator of the gravity of the humanitarian crisis.

The Security Council recalls that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and
Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue
conference, and relevant Security Council resolutions provide the basis for inclusive
negotiations for a political settlement of the crisis in Yemen and expresses concern at the
continued non-implementation of these resolutions.

The Security Council expresses its continued support for the tireless efforts of the Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to bring the parties
to negotiations with a view towards swiftly reaching a final and comprehensive agreement to
end the conflict in Yemen. The Security Council calls on the parties to immediately agree on
the modalities for a durable Cessation of Hostilities. Furthermore, the Security Council
reiterates its call to all parties to engage in peace talks in a flexible and constructive manner
without preconditions, and in good faith.

The Security Council strongly condemns the attack on the UN Special Envoys convoy
during his recent visit to Sanaa, and calls upon the Houthis and supporters of former
President Saleh to undertake a full investigation to identify those responsible and hold them
to account. The Security Council calls upon all parties to the conflict to engage constructively
with the Special Envoys proposals for peace and ensure the unhindered access of the Special
Envoy to all parts of Yemen. The Security Council notes the statement by the Government of
Yemen contained in document S/2017/476.

The Security Council calls upon all parties to comply with international humanitarian law,
including to at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants, and
between civilian objects and military objectives, and by taking all feasible precautions to
avoid, and in any event minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects, and to end the
recruitment and use of children in violation of applicable international law, in order to
prevent further suffering of civilians. The Security Council further underlines the need to
ensure the security of humanitarian and United Nations personnel. The Security Council calls
on all parties to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel. The Security Council
further calls on the parties to allow the safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian
supplies and personnel to the populations of all affected governorates, and to facilitate access
for essential imports of food, fuel and, medical supplies into the country and their distribution
throughout. In this regard, the Security Council stresses the importance of keeping all
Yemens ports functioning, including Hodeida port, as a critical lifeline for humanitarian
support and other essential supplies, in line with the Special Envoys latest proposals for
Hodeida port and city.

The Security Council shares the grave concern of the Secretary-General about the threat of
famine in Yemen, which he described as the largest food insecurity emergency in the world,
and notes with deepest concern the additional humanitarian challenge presented by the
alarming cholera outbreak in the country. The Security Council emphasizes that the spread
of cholera and the threat of famine reflect the gravity of Yemens humanitarian crisis and the
severe strain the conflict has placed on the countrys institutions.

In light of this worsening crisis, the Security Council calls on all parties to engage
constructively with the Special Envoys latest proposals for increasing commercial and
humanitarian shipments through Red Sea ports including new arrangements for the
management of Hodeida port and city. These proposals would act as a confidence-building
mechanism between the parties, with a view to a durable cessation of hostilities as a step
towards the resumption of peace talks under UN leadership. The Security Council urges the
parties to work with the Special Envoy to conclude an agreement for the resumption of
government salary payments and the preservation of essential government services in all
areas of the country.

The Security Council, with a view both to addressing the humanitarian emergency, and to
building confidence between the sides in a way which will be conducive to political
negotiations, encourages rapid agreement on (a) deployment of additional United Nations
Verification and Inspection Mechanism monitors; (b) increasing the capacity of all of Yemeni
ports, including through the timely installation of cranes at Hodeida to increase the ports
capacity; (c) increased access to Sanaa Airport for lifesaving humanitarian supplies and
movement of urgent humanitarian cases.

The Security Council calls for immediate mobilisation of the funds pledged to Yemen at the
Geneva Pledging Conference of 25 April 2017, hosted by the United Nations Secretary-
General together with the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland, and full funding of the
United Nations 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen as part of a coordinated
international response to the crisis. The Security Council also expresses support for the
statement made by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on 26 May on the urgent
need to provide funding to halt the spread of cholera.

The Security Council calls on all Member States to fully implement the arms embargo as
required by the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Security Council also calls on the
Houthis and forces allied to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to cease all attacks at the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Security Council takes threats to shipping around Bab al-Mandeb, a strategically
important shipping passage, extremely seriously and stresses that the continued exercise of
navigational rights and freedoms in and around Bab al-Mandeb strait in accordance with
relevant international law must be upheld.

The Security Council expresses grave concern about the presence of Al-Qaida in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen, and the impact its violent extremist ideology and actions have
upon civilians and stability in Yemen and the region. The Security Council further expresses
concern at the presence and future potential growth of affiliates of the Islamic State in Iraq
and Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), and reaffirms its resolve to address all aspects of
the threat posed by AQAP, ISIL (Daesh), and all other associated individuals, groups,
undertakings and entities. In this regard, the Security Council calls upon all Yemenis to
combine their efforts in countering the threat posed by terrorism.

The Security Council emphasises that the conflict in Yemen will only be resolved through the
resumption of an inclusive political process, and calls upon all parties to the conflict to
engage constructively and in good faith to overcome obstacles and find a peaceful solution.
The Security Council calls upon the parties to ensure at least 30 percent representation of
women in peace negotiations, and calls upon the UN to regularly report on consultations with
women leaders and womens organisations in line with resolution 2122 (2013).

The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.